Grass snake | Wild About Gardens Wild about gardens “Starting quite literally in their backyard, wildlife gardening offers children the chances of learning about a range of wild creatures - and how to attract them - in a safe yet exciting environment.” Stephen Moss Natrix natrix Identification The grass snake is the largest species of British snake, and is identified by its olive green body and darkish spots or streaks on the flanks. However, colouration can vary. Grass snakes have a distinctive yellow and black collar behind the head and have round pupils. They can often be confused with the adder which has a more thick-set body and a distinct zigzag down its back, and it also has a vertically slit pupil. The adder is venomous, whereas the grass snake is not. Adders are rarely found in gardens. Grass snakes can also be confused with slow worms, which are not snakes but legless lizards and are much smaller, with a glassy grey/brown appearance. Males can be told apart from females by a swelling at the base of the tail, and a longer tail in relation to the females tail. Size The grass snake can range from 70-100cm (27-39in) in length.

Females tend to be longer than males, however males have a longer tail section than females. Distribution Found in lowland areas of Britain, the grass snake is widespread and common in some areas of the south and south east of England, absent from Scotland and rare in central Wales. It is absent from Ireland. Status The grass snake has become gradually scarcer over recent years throughout the UK, and has been added to the list of priority species for conservation. It is also protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, and the Bern Convention. Threats to the grass snake are largely due to human activity, for example habitat loss and modification due to urbanisation, road building and agricultural intensification, loss of egg-laying sites as compost and manure heaps become rarer, and inappropriate management of grass snake habitat. Protection measures include management of suitable habitat areas, rescue programmes for breeding grass snakes that have been disturbed, encouraging natural colonisation of new habitats and providing advice to landowners on the importance of fresh water habitats and their surroundings to grass snake survival. Habitat preference The grass snake favours rough land and pastures, open woodland, wet heathlands, gardens, parks and hedgerows.

They are found in habitats which feature ponds, lakes, streams, marshes and ditches, which also provide access to sunshine for basking and plenty of shelter. Where to find them in the garden There are a variety of suitable places in gardens which you could find grass snakes. Compost heaps are often used as egg laying grounds due to their warmth which acts as a natural incubator. Garden ponds are used as foraging grounds for their food, as are any streams or ditches that may run through or close to your garden. Banks, mounds and rubble piles are used as areas to bask in, and they can also act as hibernation sites. Areas of short and long grass interspersed will often be used for foraging (long grass) and basking (short grass). Role in the garden The grass snake's diet consists mainly of amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts, but they can be known to also eat small mammals, young birds and some fish. The snakes natural predators are badgers, foxes, cats, hedgehogs and a number of birds.

The snake has two tactics to dissuade certain predators from killing them - 'playing dead' and releasing pungent and foul-smelling substances from the anal gland. Much of the snakes diet and preferred habitat is found in many gardens, particularly those with ponds. As their natural habitat is lost and modified, the snakes are relying increasingly on gardens with favourable habitat to forage for food and for nesting sites in particular. Snakes will do no damage to your garden or to you as they are not venomous and do not bite, so do not discourage them! Save to: Grass Snake Fact File Link to us Grass snake fact file Above, this photo was taken when a large grass snake appeared in my parent's garden pond, and proceeded to take a frog for lunch! Common name - grass snake. Scientific name - natrix natrix helvetica. Size - adult grass snakes can grow to lengths of 120cm, but 80-100cm is average. Identification tips - the body is an olive-green colour with subtle black spots or lines regularly spaced along the back and flanks. The snake's most distinguishing feature is its pale yellow collar immediately behind the head.

Preferred habitat - dense undegrowth and as close to fresh water as possible, such as ponds and streams. Diet - grass snakes feed mainly on frogs and small fish if available. Newts will also be readily eaten. Land food includes bird eggs and small mammals such as mice. Breeding - mating happens between late April to May, soon after the snakes emerge from their winter hibernation. Between 5 and 40 eggs are laid in August / September and hatch after around 10 weeks. Small patches of rotting vegetation make ideal grass snake nests, as the decomposition of the vegetation provides the required heat for the eggs to develop properly. Other points - the grass snake is Britain's largest reptile and the most common snake. Widespread throughout the New Forest and surrounding countryside, especially around fresh water. They are very strong swimmers and are equally at home in the water as on land. Grass snakes are non-venomous; under threat they may release a pugnant odour or, on occasion, remain motionless in an attempt to play dead. Snakes: Maine IF&W Figure 1: Photo Credit - Jonathan Mays Overview Snakes are among the most misunderstood of all animals.

As a result, many beneficial and harmless snakes have met untimely deaths at the hands of shovel-wielding humans. Of the nine species currently found in Maine (Table 1), none is capable of inflicting a venomous bite. Nevertheless, even a non-venomous snake will act aggressively when threatened, often striking at its aggressor, rattling its tail, and flattening out its head. Observe snakes, like all wild animals, from a respectful distance. Don't attempt to capture them or keep wild snakes as pets. Leave snakes alone. Never kill a snake. Snakes are an important part of the natural food web; they eat rodents, birds, frogs, insects, and on occasion other snakes. (In turn, a variety of other animals prey on snakes.) Besides their ecological value, snakes offer the careful wildlife viewer a chance to watch one of nature's most efficient predators. The common garter snake, the most wide-ranging reptile in North America, is also the most abundant snake in Maine. You can find garter snakes from coastal islands to the mountains to your garden; the snakes usually stay close to water or wet meadows.

Snakes in Maine In Maine, five species of snakes are keeled, that is, they have a keel or ridge running along the midline of each scale from front to back, making the scales appear rough. These five species also bear live young from eggs retained in the body until hatching. Northern Black Racer Back glossy black, belly gray Found in open, early successional habitats such as grasslands, shrub lands and reverting agricultural areas Eats amphibians, small birds, small mammals, insects and other snakes Ring-necked Snake Brown with rows of black spots on back, dark diagonal streak behind eyes Found in rural areas and mixed forest, both wet and dry Eats primarily earthworms and slugs Common Snakes in Maine Most common snake in Maine and extremely variable in coloration Habitat generalist Eats earthworms, amphibians, insects, rodents, and occasionally nesting birds The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis, Fig. 1) is found from coastal islands to mountain regions. This species is easily the most frequently encountered snake in Maine.

It can be quite variable in appearance, including individuals with brightly colored yellow, green and blue stripes that run lengthwise along its body and a grayish-blue underside to checkered varieties, to darker and more solid-colored animals with limited pattern. Most grow to two or three feet. Small garter snakes eat earthworms and slugs. Larger snakes add amphibians, small rodents, nestling birds and fish to their diet. Garter snakes can survive in suburbia and towns because of their generalist diet and ability to "live" birth (i.e., they do not require a safe place to lay their eggs). These snakes get their name from their supposed resemblance to the garters that men once wore to hold up their socks. When disturbed, garter snakes will try to escape, but if threatened they may strike, bite, and smear musk (foul-smelling anal secretions) on their captor. A bite from one of these non-venomous snakes may be alarming, but will rarely break the skin.

Figure 2: Photo Credit - Jonathan Mays Northern Water Snake Dark brown to gray with reddish brown/black blotches along back Found in aquatic and semiaquatic habitats Eats primarily fish The northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon), Maine's most aquatic snake, is found only in the southern half of the state. It prefers slow-moving waters of bogs, swamps, cat-tail marshes and wet meadows. It usually grows to between 24 and 42 inches and is a very robust snake. It is known to defend itself aggressively and can deliver a painful but non-venomous bite. Northern water snake. The keels – tiny ridges on the scales – break up reflected light; the snake's skin does not appear shiny. (Fig. 2) Red-bellied snake (Fig. 3): Photo Credit - Jonathan Mays Red-bellied Snake Found in woodlands, along shorelines Eats slugs, earthworms and insects with soft bodies The red-bellied snake (Storeiria occipitomaculata) can be found in all but the northernmost regions of Maine.

Only eight to 12 inches in length, this snake does not bite when handled. It eats a lot of slugs, so is a wonderful snake to host in your garden. Figure 4: Photo Credit - Jonathan Mays Smooth Green Snake Back grass green, underside pale yellow or white Found in upland meadows, open areas, open woods, gardens Eats primarily insects Often called the grass snake, the smooth green snake (Liochlorophis vernalis), is, as its name suggests, a lovely green color, perfectly camouflaged in its primary habitats of upland meadows, lawns and gardens. This species turns an iridescent blue post-mortem. Found primarily in the southern and central regions of Maine, this snake's diet is largely caterpillars, crickets, grasshoppers and ants. Like the red-bellied snake, smooth green snakes rarely bite. Smooth green snake. The scales on this species do not have keels, so they reflect light and make the skin appear glossy. (Fig.

4) Figure 5a: Photo Credit - Jonathan Mays Figure 5b: Photo Credit - Jonathan Mays Milk Snake Gray/tan with brown or reddish-brown blotches Found in mixed farmlands; dry, open woodlands; sometimes near human dwellings Eats rodents, birds, eggs, other snakes and amphibians Due to its coloration and habit of shaking its tail when threatened, the milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) is sometimes confused with the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), which has been extirpated from Maine. Milk snakes are strongly marked with brown or reddish blotches and can grow to more than three feet in length. They prefer mixed farmlands and dry, open woodlands and often venture near human dwellings. They prey on rodents, birds, eggs, other snakes and amphibians. Eastern milk snake adult (Fig. 5a) and juvenile (Fig. 5b). Note: Four species of snakes do not have keels on the scales. Instead, the scales are smooth and their surface appears glossy. These snakes lay their eggs in well-drained, protected areas.

Facts about Snakes Food and Feeding Behavior Snakes are predators and eat many animals thought to be pests, such as mice, voles, snails and slugs. Other prey items include insects, birds and their eggs, fish and frogs. Snakes have hinged jaws that allow them to consume food that is wider than their bodies. Even so, what a snake eats depends on its size; generally, larger snakes eat larger food items. Snakes have forked tongues that deposit air molecules on receptors in the mouth; thus, snakes "taste" the air, which helps them locate prey and sense their way in the dark. Snakes store food as fat and can live off their fat reserve for extended periods of time. Shelter and Hibernation Sites From spring to fall, snakes use rodent burrows, spaces under logs and tree stumps, rock crevices, and lumber and rock piles as dens for shelter. Snakes in Maine use these dens to hibernate during winter, either alone or in a group site called a hibernaculum. The hibernaculum must be adequately vented, neither too dry nor too wet, and warm enough to prevent death by freezing.

Snakes will use the same hibernaculum year after year; multiple snakes of different species may occupy the same hibernaculum. Emergence from hibernation can begin as early as March, depending on the species, location and snow cover. Snakes may temporarily emerge from hibernation to feed and bask during warm periods in mild areas. Reproduction For most species, courtship and mating occurs shortly after snakes emerge from hibernation. The garter snake, brown snake, red-bellied snake, ribbon snake and northern water snake bear live young from eggs retained in the body until hatching. All other Maine snakes – the northern black racer, ring-necked snake, milk snake and smooth green snake – lay eggs in well-drained, protected areas that receive enough external heat to hatch. Young are born from July through September and fend for themselves after hatching. Young snakes grow rapidly, and reach sexual maturity in two or three years. Mortality and Longevity Coyotes, foxes, opossums, raccoons, skunks, weasels, great blue herons, hawks, eagles and owls all prey on snakes.

Humans, domestic cats and dogs, lawn mowers, weed-whackers, and vehicles fatally wound or kill snakes. Additional mortality may be caused from snakes becoming entwined in erosional/vegetative netting or becoming trapped in deep storm-water culverts. Garter snakes have lived as long as 18 years in captivity. This age might be exceptional for a wild snake, but little is known on this subject. Back to top Viewing Snakes All snakes tend to be inconspicuous, preferring to move away and hide or lie still in the hope of being overlooked. Most encounters are momentary. Although snakes are often seen as threatening, they hiss, strike or bite only if cornered or restrained. Most of the time, snakes are slow moving, but they can make short dashes to chase prey or escape from predators. Because snakes are particularly active and less wary during the breeding season, spring is a good time to be on the lookout for them. Snakes are often inactive during the hottest part of the day, especially in mid- to late summer, and seek shelter or crawl underground to avoid overheating. Snakes may become more active at night when the air cools but the ground remains warm.

It is environmentally unsound to capture snakes and try to relocate them on your property or keep them as pets. Due to their well-developed homing instincts, most snakes will soon leave an unfamiliar area; predators or cars often kill them as they try to return to home ground. Basking Sites Most snakes reach their preferred body temperature by basking on surfaces exposed to sun. They control their body temperature by moving in and out of the sunlight, and by changing their orientation to it (facing the sun, back to the sun, etc.). They also derive body heat by lying on or under warm surfaces. Figure 6: Drawing Credit Kim A. Cabrera In hot areas, look for snakes basking in the morning sun on asphalt, concrete, rocks and wooden fences. In cooler regions, watch for them throughout the day. Snakes tend to bask on sun-warmed roads in the evening, a behavior that often leads to their death. Tracks You can most easily find snake "tracks" in sandy or dusty areas in their preferred habitats. These marks may be wavy or straight lines (Fig. 6). Surface material is usually pushed up at the outside of each curve. Snake "tracks" are sometimes characterized by side-to-side undulations.

The distance from one curve to the next varies according to the age of the snake and the speed at which it is traveling. (Fig. 6) Droppings/Scat Snake droppings, like those of birds, usually have a cap of white calcareous material at one end. The size of the droppings corresponds to the size of the animal (and the size of the prey item digested). Snake droppings are cord like, with constrictions and undulations. Shed Snake Skins Depending on the species, diet, age and climatic conditions, a snake typically sheds its skin two to three times per year. You can tell when it is ready to shed because its eyes look bluish-white and dull. Snakes may even become temporarily blind until the old skin splits at the head and they are able to crawl out. Shed skin looks like thin, clear plastic. Every detail is preserved, including the scales and eye covers. Look for shed skin under boards as well as in rock piles, stacked firewood and other places where snakes congregate.

If the shed skin is in good shape, it is possible to identify the species by counting how many rows of scales there are, checking whether the scales are keeled or smooth, looking at the anal plate is divided, and checking the skin for pattern remnants. If you find a snake skin and want to try to identify the species, consult the books and internet sites listed under " Additional Resources ". Tips for Attracting Snakes In addition to the persecution snakes experience routinely at human hands, they have suffered greatly from our activities that alter habitat. Snakes fare poorly when we break up natural lands for urban and suburban development and isolate animals that cannot easily move across inhospitable terrain. To provide safe spaces on your property for snakes: Figure 7: Drawing Credit - Jenifer Rees Protect hibernation sites and other retreat areas such as rock piles and downed woody debris. Mow at a slow speed and be ready to step on the clutch or brake. Leave grass un-mowed in places that adjoin a wet area, sunny forest edge, or any other suspected snake habitat. If the grass has to be cut, survey the area and move or "herd" snakes to move to a safe location prior to mowing.

Set the mower blades as high as possible, or use a weed-whacker and leave grass six inches or higher. Build a fish-free pond. Many snakes feed on tadpoles, adult frogs and invertebrates found in and around ponds. Because fish compete with snakes for amphibians, making the pond fish-free will provide most snakes with the best opportunity for feeding. (See " Additional Resources " for more information about landscaping for wildlife.) Build or maintain a rock wall or a rock pile with crevices for snakes to escape from severe weather and predators, to find food and to give birth (Fig. 7 ). Figure 8: Drawing Credit - Jenifer Rees A rock wall or pile of rocks provides snakes protection. (Fig. 7) Create a "snake board" by laying a sheet of plywood or corrugated sheet metal on the ground in a sunny location, propping it up on three sides with three-inch rocks, lengths of plastic pipe, or similar objects (Fig. 8). In cool areas, paint the top black or cover it with dark asphalt shingles to increase the temperature below the board. Snakes will seek out the shelter of a "snake board" in areas where a similar type of shelter is lacking. (Fig.

8) Place habitat-enhancement features, such as snake boards and rock piles, away from driveways or heavily traveled roads. Discourage cats from using your yard. Cats are effective hunters and can severely decrease the snake population. In addition, you can encourage your friends and neighbors to protect snakes too, especially on property that adjoins yours. More generally, you can support public acquisition of greenbelts, remnant forests, and other wild areas in your community and join a local conservation organization, land trust or habitat enhancement project. Back to top Preventing Conflicts Because of misconceptions, many people fear snakes and consequently try to eradicate them. The first thing you should do when encountering a snake, though, is to leave it alone. Next, as long as it is not inside a house or building, continue to leave it alone. The chances that you will ever see the animal again are fairly small. If a snake gets into a building accidentally: These animals will usually attempt to escape because the "habitat" is unsuitable. They are generally small animals that will likely die from lack of food or moisture if not captured and removed. First of all, remain calm. If you disturb it, you will force it into hiding.

Then, try to remove it. Open a nearby door and use a broom to gently herd the animal out. You can also use a long pole, stick or golf club to pick a snake up and place it in a box or wastebasket to transport outdoors. If you are squeamish, use barriers such as boards or boxes to confine the snake in a room or corner, then seek a neighbor or experienced handler to capture it. If possible, slowly place an empty pail or wastebasket over a small or coiled snake until someone else arrives. You can also hire an animal damage control agent or company to do the job. Call your regional wildlife office for a referral or look under "Animal" or "Wildlife" in your phone directory or on the Internet. If snakes enter to find prey or shelter: Some snakes hibernate in older houses, cellars or crawl spaces with dirt floors. The presence of shed skin may indicate that a snake has taken up residence, or the snake may have used the house/cellar as temporary refugia while it shed its skin. Snakes usually enter at ground level, so sealing all ground-level holes or cracks can prevent their access.

Seal all cracks and holes in building foundations and exterior walls – including warped siding – where a small snake could enter. Use quarter-inch mesh hardware cloth, caulk, mortar or a concrete patch to make the seal. Snakes can find easy access to garage areas through open garage doors or under poorly fitting doors. Cover door bottoms with metal flashing or a rubber gasket. Or, use tight-fitting weather-stripping along the garage and other outside doors. These modifications will also help exclude mice and other rodents, whose presence alone may attract snakes. If snakes live around your house: In this situation, you need to modify the habitat by reducing the food supply and shelter, and encouraging natural predators. The reduction of shelter such as rock piles, woodpiles, tall grass not only limits hiding places, but also reduces the habitat used by mice and other rodents, which are a food source for snakes. (Snakes will also use holes made by mice or other rodents.) Reduce the mice and rat populations by cleaning up spilled seed under bird feeders and making other food inaccessible. Note: Although snakes don't make up the majority of any predator's diet, hawks, owls, and a wide range of mammals eat them.

As the number of snakes goes down, the number of mice, voles and other rodents may increase, resulting in a different variety of problems. Figure 9: Drawing Credit - Jenifer Rees To create a one-way door: Seal all the openings except the suspected main entrance. On that opening, install a one-way door made from a piece of aluminum window screen rolled into a cylinder about 10 inches long and with a slightly larger diameter than the entrance hole. Suspend the outlet end of the tube off the ground to prevent the returning snake from finding the entry. The device may be left in place for a month or longer to allow time for the snake to leave. Make any necessary repairs to the house or other structure to prevent the problem from reoccurring. To fence out snakes: Make a fence from quarter-inch mesh galvanized hardware cloth, 30 inches high. Bury the bottom edge three to six inches in the ground, placing the support stakes inside the fence to prevent snakes from crawling up them. You can construct this fence alone or add it to the front of an existing fence. Any gate should fit tightly and be kept closed.

Regularly inspect the fence to be sure that holes haven't been opened under it, and that items have not been piled against the outside. Mow grass and weeds around the fence. A snake fence should slant outward at a 30-degree angle toward the area containing snakes. (Fig. 9) To repel snakes: Snake repellents, such as Snake-A-Way and the stronger Doctor T's Snake Away © have produced mixed results. Snakes "smell" things via their tongues and the Jacobson's organ, which is located in the roof of the mouth. But, unlike mammals, snakes have no sense of smell associated with their breathing cycle. Unless the snake just happens to poke its tongue out at the precise moment that it is moving over the repellent, it will not notice a thing. Even if it does, the smell may not be noxious enough to drive the snake in another direction. To trap a snake (a last resort): Make a live trap from a 24- to 36-inch section of four-inch PVC pipe. Temporarily cap one end and close off the other end with a cap that has a one-inch hole drilled through the center.

Place a hand warmer and a soft cotton rag in the far end of the tube. The hand warmer will gently heat the tube and provide a lure for a cold snake. If the PVC trap feels too hot or cool, drill a few air holes in the top of the tube to ventilate. Anchor the trap to prevent it from rolling. A tracking patch (a bit of talcum powder) in front of the trap will confirm that a snake has entered. Place a piece of duct tape over the hole before moving the snake and trap outside. Back to top Public Health Concerns Non-venomous snake bites are harmless. As with any injury that breaks the skin, the only concern may be for potential infection. If someone has been bitten, clean and sterilize the wound as you would any cut or abrasion. A few people may be allergic to what are usually harmless bites, such as those from a garter snake. Contact your physician if a rash or sign of infection appears. Back to top Legal Status Without the proper permit, it is unlawful to import or possess any snake species that is not on the state's unrestricted wildlife list . Furthermore, the taking of snakes from the wild for export or commercial purposes is prohibited in Maine.

The northern black racer (Coluber constrictor) is listed as Endangered in Maine and therefore it is unlawful to take or harass this species. New England Wildlife, Habitat, Natural History, and Distribution Written by: Richard DeGraff, and Mariko Yamasaki University Press of New England, 2001. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern North America Written by: R. Conant and J.T. Collins Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999. Written by: M.L. Hunter, A.J.K. Calhoun, and M. McCollogh (eds.) Orono: University of Maine Press, 1999. Snakes of the United States and Canada Written by: C.H. Ernst and E.M. Ernst Smithsonian Books, 2003. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest Written by: R. Link Seattle: University of Washington Press and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1999. Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Northeastern United States Written by: J.C. Mitchell, A.R.

Breisch, and K.A. Buhlmann Montgomery, Alabama: Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Technical Publication HMG-3. Internet Resources Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group - Grass Snake Grass Snake Natrix natrix helvetica (Linnaeus 1758) Other Names: Introduction The Grass snake. The Grass snake is Britain's largest native terrestrial reptile, and probably its most common species of snake. Grass snakes, along with Slow worms, are the reptile that is most likely to be encountered in a garden, if you are lucky. The Grass snake grows to over a metre (3-feet) long, and is strongly associated with water habitats, including garden ponds. It is completely harmless to man, and almost never bites, even when caught. As with all native reptiles, it is illegal to harm or kill them. Grass snakes are particularly associated with water. Identification The black and yellow collar forms a band or ring immediately behind the snakes head. The Grass Snake is most easily identifiable by the interlinked black and yellow collar which usually forms a band or ring immediately behind the snakes head. However, such a collar is missing from sub species n.

astreptophorous, which normally inhabits the Iberian peninsula but can also be found in Jersey. The upper body is normally olive green or olive brown with black vertical bars along the flanks and which are interspersed by parallel rows of black dashes or dots, varying in size and shape and depending upon each individual snake, but, on the underside, the ventral scales of buff, cream or white have an equally individual chequered pattern in black. The face has marked slashes and bars of black on each side below the eye and which form a method of individual identification. © Tony Phelps Coiled Grass snake Morphology Occasional cases of polymorphism turn up and have been recorded in the UK, including several sightings of melanistic individuals, off white/buff and completely green colouration although these sightings are very rare. Melanistic Grass snakes are uncommon. © John Newton Markings like this are very rare. © Tony Phelps Striped morph © Robert Vaughan Sexual Dimorphism The female of the species may grow up to 1.2 metres in length (Snout To Vent), however, more mature individuals have been reported as being in the region of 2 metres in length.

The male is more frequently tiny in comparison and individuals of around 600mm are usually among the largest specimens recorded. the female is much larger than the male generally and the head of the female is much more pronounced in being triangular in appearance with eyes deep set into the cheeks whereas the male has an altogether more slender head with eyes that often protrude beyond the line of the face and jaw. The majority of females tend also to possess two post ocular scales as opposed to the males three post ocular scales and the female will normally have a much shorter tail to body ratio with a marked difference between body and tail width. It is usual for the female to possess between 52-56 sub caudal scales, while the tail of the male (which tends to taper more gently from the vent, but, often with a bulge at the base of the tail) will have between 68-72 sub caudal scales, therefore making up to a third of total length. Comparative pictures of female and male heads. © Robert Vaughan Could be mistaken for... There are three other species of snake found in the UK, but only the Grass snake has the black and yellow collar behind the head.

The Adder has a distinctive zig-zag pattern along its back, and the rare Smooth snake (only found in a few Southern counties) is plainer in pattern. Both of these two species lack the Grass snake's collar. The Aesculapian snake is an introduced species to the United Kingdom, and is only known to breed at Colwyn in North Wales, and on the Regent's Canal, by London Zoo. Juvenile Aesculapian snakes do have a light collar, and have been confused with Grass snakes. Aesculapians do not have the dark collar that is almost always adjacent to the yellow collar of the Grass snake. Grass snake (left) with Smooth snake (right) © Owen Burnham Adder Sub-adult Aesculapian snake © John Newton Distribution Natrix natrix helvetica is most commonly thought of as the British Grass Snake, although its range extends east to Belgium, Germany, Sweden (where it overlaps with Natrix natrix natrix) and the Netherlands.

Further east and south, its range is supplemented by other sub species namely, astreptophora, Cetti, Corsa, Cypriaca, Fusca, Gotlandica, Lanzai, Persa, Schweizeri, Sculata, Sicula, Syriaca and Tessellata, 15 (fifteen) sub species in total, although there is some disagreement as to the exact status and classification of these. And only Schweizeri in Greece and Cetti in Sicily currently occupy a position on the �Red List� of European endangered species. The distribution of the Grass Snake stretches across the paleartic region from Russia to the UK and from Spain and Greece in the south, up to Sweden and to the latitude of 65 deg North. They have been recorded from the Balkan peninsula to the Iberian peninsula, although, many areas will not support a local population because of local ground conditions and/or climate, such as the colder, shorter summers experienced upon higher ground.

Their distribution across England and Wales is becoming patchy, although with increased public awareness and changing attitudes, the provision of man-made egg laying sites, hibernacula installations and refuges in gardens such as landscaping and water features like ponds, may yet make an important difference to numbers and the frequency of local populations. Because the Grass Snake enjoys a specialised diet that includes prey items which take on both land and water borne phases annually, Natrix natrix can be found in a wide variety of macro habitats and soil type is not the primary concern, however, where ground cover is naturally restricted in mountain regions, or open and barren moors, then the incidence of natrix will be considerably reduced. They are not commonly found in Scotland, Ireland or large areas of Wales and even the counties of Wiltshire, Cornwall and Devon have areas within them where the ground conditions are not conducive to the Grass Snake life cycle.

National distribution for the Grass Snake Surrey distribution for the Grass Snake Habitat Ponds, lakes and rivers are the preferred habitat of the Grass Snake, but, not only are features such as bank-side vegetation important to provide cover against predatory hawks and herons for instance, there must be readily identifiable passages of ground cover in the form of ditches, hedges or banks of brambles which lead up to the pond�s banks. If such passages are removed from the surrounding environment, then the frequency at which Grass Snakes will visit a particular pond will reduce. Just because a pond may hold a suitable prey items, does not mean that the Grass Snake will populate the water body, because a lack of local cover or the frequency of higher predators may prevent such. When their prey take on their land borne phases, which occurs from mid summer, (June or July depending on weather) then the Grass Snake will move to drier surroundings and can be found in forest clearings, woodland edges and gardens. With the increased growth of cities, suburban developments and human activities, the inevitable disturbance to the wilder and quieter quarters of the countryside has impacted upon the migration routes of the Grass Snake and so numbers have diminished substantially over the last ten to fifteen years.

The decline in Grass Snake numbers is such, that, there is now genuine concern for their status within the UK in general and as the Grass Snake does not frequent Scotland (although it has been sighted there on occasion), mainly because of the colder climate, suitable habitats around bodies of water where amphibians are still plentiful are themselves becoming scarce. Coupled with this, as the Grass Snake is mainly diurnal in its habits, it is further restricted in its activity than say that of the Adder, in that it cannot use the cover of darkness to hunt and is therefore more prone to predation especially where ground cover is removed to provide recreational facilities and parks. This may be compounded by the fact that the snake is harmless in that it does not possess venom glands or fangs. Grass Snakes will frequent many different soil types as long as ground conditions are not too acid or alkali which may then deter prey items such as frogs, toads and newts from inhabiting an area (as their skin is permeable and susceptible to irritation) and as long as day time refuges such as crevices, hollowed, fallen logs and/or suitably dense vegetation allows good cover and shade.

Well vegetated riperian habitat is ideal for Grass snakes - although they may equally be found on heathland in late summer. Activity Grass snakes will often slough their skins in groups and at the same time of year. As the shedding process is linked to growth, weather patterns and stage of life, this is dictated locally by conditions found at any given location, so that when one skin cast is found, there is frequently up to seven or eight others to be found in the same vicinity. As the sloughing process is usually undertaken between every 6-10 weeks and given that the cycle from dulling of colour and fogging of the eye lens caps, through to the actual shedding is between 7 and 10 days, some overlap would be inevitable, but not to the extent where the whole group is coordinated, so how and why the Grass snakes employ this group strategy is still unknown. January diet switches to terrestrial amphibians August Food A Grass snake eating a Common frog. The Grass Snake�s diet has preferences which relates directly to the time of year.

From March, when the snakes emerge until mid may, they will take greater quantities of small fish, mainly because the fish are spawning during this period and are easier for the snakes to catch among the weedy fringes of water bodies. Grass snakes can often be seen lying still among lilly pads and stalking the flapping fish. From May until late June/early July, the emphasis falls onto Newts (including Great Crested variety), and again, that is because the newt�s own life cycle doesn�t include a land-borne phase until after July. From July, the snakes gradually disperse away from ponds and into forest clearings, wooded copses and longer grasses / ground cover and a higher number of Frogs and Toads will then be taken as a result. The frogs and Toads themselves had generally moved away from the ponds by April, although some are obviously predated upon between the cross over of snakes arriving at ponds in Spring and while the frogs/toads are migrating away from them. Nests of very young chicks such as moorhens are sometimes consumed by Grass snakes, (mainly to supplement an otherwise restricted diet), as are mice/voles, especially by the more mature female snakes, but these incidents are rare.

The neonates of Grass Snakes will take young/small fish, late tadpoles, and the newly metamorphosed new generation of frogs and toads and there is also some mention that worms have been consumed occasionally by Grass Snakes but this has not been scientifically proven. Small fish. Common frogs in terrestrial phase. Predators The Grass snake will 'play dead' to dissuade predators which prefer live prey. The Grass snake suffers predation by many species, including; domestic dogs, birds of prey, man, herons, pheasants, corvids, mustalids, hedgehogs, foxes and even terrapins. Neonate Grass snakes are particularly susceptible to predation by cats, pheasants and blackbirds. The main defence that the Grass Snake possesses against predation is the expulsion of a secretion from the anal glands and is mixed with faecal matter from the cloaca and which is pungent enough to discourage some attacks. Failing that, the Grass Snake has been known to play dead, by inverting itself, so that the ventral scales are shown to an aggressor and which is accompanied by the snakes jaw being held agape with the tongue protruding as though lifeless.

Like many other colubrids, the Grass Snake does not possess venom glands or fangs and is harmless to human beings although they have been known to bite on very rare occasions. Young pheasant predating a juvenile grass snake © John Tomsett Mustalids (polecat) Domestic cat (Wooster) Shelter Grass snake hibernacula are typically either rabbit burrows, or root systems of trees, provided that raised ground allows well�drained soil. Occasionally they are found under farm buildings, in hay stores and even in compost heaps in sheltered spots and where the temperature is generally higher than that of the surrounding environment. Favourite haunts during active period includes among mosses attached to roots of Heather, in deep piles of leaves, under over-hangs of banks of well fringed ponds, in the rotten stumps of fallen trees and hollowed logs. Reproduction Grass snake eggs, found in pig dung.

The Grass Snake can be found in spring (upon emergence from hibernation), to participate in �mating balls�, where up to 8 (eight) males and one-two females congregate in a tight and writhing mass that can resemble a ball of rope and can be a hub-bub of activity for up to two hours. Although there seems to be no one �alpha� male that predominates in the mating process, the male suitor is merely that that manages to couple before any of the others. It has been noted that even some of the smallest males in any group can be the active mate in coition, simply because that particular male�s hemi-penes have become ensnared within the female cloaca and thus excluding others, although, the female may mate with many males during the spring period generally. The mating ball congregations usually form with the female basking in temperatures above 13 deg c, with an open cloaca and which then attracts males to her vicinity. Once located the male will attempt to uncoil the female with a constant intertwining of his body through hers and until their vents can be aligned and positioned for the mating process.

No other form of dance or ritual like that of adders has been noted, although female Grass Snakes have been known to retreat rapidly from such mating balls and for no particular reason, but are then actively pursued by the group of males so it sometimes seems as though they are charging together through the ground cover. Once gravid, the female may not reach ovulation and oviposition of eggs for two months or so, (again, depending on weather conditions) and the size of egg clutch will be determined by and have a direct correlation with, the size of the female herself. Young females may carry only 7-15 eggs, while more mature females can increase to a clutch of mid twenties while some of the largest females (rarely) can produce up to forty eggs, but then the snake would need to be at least ten years old, in order to produce a clutch of that size. It is thought that clutches of eggs may have anything between 45% - 75% success rate of hatching into neonates and that around 50% of these survive to a breeding age. Juveniles The juvenile Grass Snake is generally a miniature version of the adult with the collar markings etc present from birth.

The incubation period is around 70 days from oviposition to hatching, though the weather will have a major impact on the period and lower temperatures and longer incubations bringing more female offspring as a result and higher temperatures / shorter incubation bringing a higher percentage of males. All neonates leave the egg with an umbilical chord attached but which withers and breaks away, sometimes within hours but sometimes taking up to two days to detach fully. The neonates will normally always consume prey before hibernation although it is thought that the first hibernation period sees the greatest losses in Grass Snake numbers, partially due to lack of suitable prey and inexperience in locating deep enough hibernacula where frost can be avoided. The young of the Grass snake upon hatching are usually between 148-150mm in length and in the first year, this will have increased to 210-220mm. The young males are thought to become sexually mature before they reach 300mm in length. A juvenile Grass snake is a minature of an adult. Juvenile Grass snake - held to demonstrate size. Ventral surface.

Conservation The estimated Grass Snake population in the UK is suggested to be around 365,000 snakes, however, losses in the last fifteen years means that this figure is expected to be a considerable over-estimate and may now be as low as 180,000. Natrix natrix helvetica has only minimal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which bans the taking for sale, killing or injuring of any Grass Snake, but which does not protect their habitat per se. Although both the UK�s and the European biodiversity plans hint at conservation, the specialised niche of the Grass Snake and its needs are not addressed in any SSSI�s or SAC�s within the UK, although two sub species are protected fully under European law, namely Natrix cetti and Schweizeri. Areas such as Minsmere in Suffolk, Purbeck in Dorset and also within the New forest, provide hope that long term conservation of the species can be achieved although in more urban situations and suburban areas without green belt, the population losses are unlikely to stabilise without even greater introductions of garden ponds and sympathetic gardening practices that allow for �wild areas� to remain.

Designation BBC Nature - Grass snake videos, news and facts Grass snake Grass snake Reaching nearly two metres, grass snakes are the UK's largest reptile and our only snake to lay eggs. A grass snake's speed and wariness makes it incredibly difficult to spot, but once cornered it is one of the few animals that play dead as a defence against predators . If this ploy fails, a foul-smelling substance from the anus and repeated head strikes are employed to aid the escape. Grass snakes are active predators themselves of frogs and toads . Even fish , small mammals and birds aren't safe - those are grabbed and swallowed whole. Common and widespread in Europe , grass snakes are usually to be found near water where there is plenty of shelter and warm morning sunshine for basking in. They hibernate during the cooler winter months. Grass snake facts Grass snake facts Body Content Grass snakes There is only one type of snake found in Jersey – the grass snake. The grass snake is entirely harmless and the rarest of Jersey’s reptiles. It is often confused with the slow worm, which is actually a legless lizard. It is fully protected under the Conservation of Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2000.​ What do grass snakes look like?

Adult grass snakes grow to about 80cm long, but can grow as large as 120cm long. They are a dull green / brown colour, with a cream belly and black markings - black spots and black bars are found down its sides. A lot of grass snakes have a distinctive yellow and black collar, but sometimes this is absent, especially in larger individuals. Grass snake diet Grass snakes feed mostly on amphibians (frogs, toads and newts). Grass snake habitats Grass snakes are often seen around ponds and streams (they are good swimmers), but can also be found in dry woods, hedgerows and meadows. They are not just found in wild habitats - they frequently visit gardens and farms. Grass snakes usually lay their eggs in compost heaps, manure piles and any other warm rotting vegetation. Where to find grass snakes Grass snakes are diurnal, which means they're active during the day. The best time to see grass snakes is after they emerge from hibernation in March - April (although they can be encountered until October).

Encourage grass snakes into your garden To learn how to encourage grass snakes into your garden and how to build the best pond to attract amphibians, read the grass snakes leaflet download.

Question: What is the main diet of the grass snake
Answer: Frogs